Pasadena Pleasures

They used to say Pasadena doesn’t have any good restaurants. . . .

Crocodile Cafe, 140 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena. (818) 449-9900. Style: Poor man’s Parkway Grill. Setting: The Croc That Roared. Recommended dishes: Grilled chicken skewer with two chutneys; chicken fettuccine with vegetable sauce; cheeseburger. Cost per person: $8-$20.

Dodsworth Bar & Grill, 2 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (818) 578-1344. Style: A little something of everything to suit everybody. Setting: Upscale faculty lounge. Recommended dishes: Pork tostada; veal scaloppine with fresh ginger. Cost per person: $15-$30.

Market City Caffe, 33 S. Fair Oaks, Pasadena. (818) 568-0203. Style: Neighborhood Italian with ample antipasto bar. Setting: Pseudo-market. Recommended dishes: Pizza portofino ; grilled veal chop; tirami su. Cost per person: $10-$25.

Menage, 119 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (818) 568-9164. Style: A little Cajun; a little California, a little Southwestern. Setting: A little disco; a little backgammon; a little noisy. Recommended dishes: Ceviche; shrimp etouffee ; lobster ravioli. Cost per person: $15-$30.

Parkway Grill, 510 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena. (818) 795-1001. Style: Trendy Spago copycat. Setting: Bricks and boards. Recommended dishes: Sonoma lamb salad; applewood smoked chicken; pizza with four cheeses. Cost per person: $20-$35.

Restaurant Shiro, 1505 Mission St., South Pasadena (818) 799-4774. Style: Franco-Japanese for fish-loving foodies. Setting: Simple storefront. Recommended dishes: Chinese ravioli with shrimp and salmon mousse; Catfish in Japanese ponzu sauce; seafood salad. Cost per person: $15-$25.